The matchup: TCU travels to Ames, Iowa to take on Iowa State at 11 a.m. Saturday. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Southwest.

What's at stake: It's a matchup of two teams playing for pride. TCU can still make a bowl with three straight wins to finish its season, and Iowa State is playing to get its first Big 12 win of the season.

The line: TCU -7.5

Last meeting: TCU played Iowa State in the fifth game of its season last year. The Thursday before the game, starting quarterback Casey Pachall left the team, and Gary Patterson was forced to switch Trevone Boykin from running back to quarterback. The Cyclones started out well in the first quarter, and the TCU offense struggled to move the ball. Iowa State won 37-23, halting a 12 game win streak for the Frogs.

When TCU has the ball: The Frogs will again give Casey Pachall plenty of opportunities to make plays through the passing game. Last week, Pachall completed 40 passes for 394 yards, a far cry from the passing game production while Boykin was quarterback, but TCU's defense struggled in the second half, a sign that they may be wearing down after the TCU offense has struggled to stay on the field all season.

The Cyclone defense has been solid this year, but it's the Cyclone offense that has struggled to play up to Big 12 standards.

Gary Patterson said Wednesday that Trevone Boykin has started to return punts. That news comes a week after Boykin hauled in 11 receptions for 100 yards. The Frogs head coach complemented Boykin for his play at receiver, saying that Casey Pachall feels as comfortable throwing to Trevone as he does any player TCU lines up at receiver. Earlier in the season, Boykin became the first player in TCU history to lead the team in passing yards and receiving yards in a game.

The key for TCU on Saturday will be not turning the ball over. Last week, TCU got off to a fast start, but Casey Pachall said they got "complacent," and turnovers allowed West Virginia to take the lead. TCU cannot turn the ball over against the Cyclones and give their lackluster offense a chance at easy points.

ISU is one of only three teams in the last four years to have forced 23+ turnovers each season (others: Oregon, North Carolina).

When Iowa State has the ball: Gary Patterson said Wednesday that Derrick Kindred will start at free safety instead of senior Elisha Olabode.

"It's not about just these three ball games," Patterson said. "It's about next season and the season after that. When you lose how to practice to be a champion, it takes a long time to be able to get that back. It's not something that just goes away."

The Cyclones rank 109th in the nation in total offense, and they averaged just 4.2 yards per play (for comparison, TCU averages 4.7 yards per play).

There is reason to be skeptical if the Cyclones can put together lengthy drives against the TCU defense, so the key for the Frogs defense will be not giving up big plays. Against Texas and West Virginia, the TCU secondary has allowed too many big plays with the vertical passing game.

Sophomore Sam Richardson is averaging just 6.43 yards per attempt while completing just 55 percent of his passes. Richardson will be looking for sophomore wide receiver Quenton Bundrage. He leads the Cyclones in catches, yards and touchdowns; included on that resume is a 97 yard touchdown catch against Texas.

Gary Patterson believes the Cyclones are considerably better playing at home than on the road even if their 0-4 home record does not support that claim.

"Our kids know that they play good at home, we've got to get ready to play," Patterson said. "It's their homecoming; they waited until the ninth ball game to make us their homecoming."

If TCU can take a lead into the locker room at halftime, their chances of winning increase exponentially as ISU is just 3-28 when trailing at halftime in the Paul Rhoads era.

Prediction: It's hard to pick TCU because they continue to find ways to lose. Last week against West Virginia, the Frogs went so far backwards in overtime, they were forced to kick a 62 yard field goal. That tied for the longest field goal ever attempted in a college overtime.

The Frogs offense is better with Pachall under center and Boykin at wide receiver, but the offensive line is still an issue. The x-factor in the game will be field position. ISU punter Kirby Van Der Kamp is one of the nation's best. He has pinned opponents inside the twenty yard line 20 times this season.

If TCU plays intelligent football and does not hurt themselves with turnovers and penalties, they will beat ISU. I think TCU struggles with turnovers and penalties again, thus giving Iowa State momentum in front of a homecoming crowd. However, Pachall makes a play late to help the Frogs eek out a win.

TCU wins 24-23.

~You can follow Alex Apple on Twitter @AlexAppleDFW, and be sure to follow @SportsDayDFW as well.~

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